No more Halloween and Arya's first 1st Grade field trip

This is the year we decided to no longer celebrate Halloween. Just not interested in all that makes no sense. Why follow a tradition just because everyone else is?

We don't support the blood, horror, and origination of this holiday nor do we find it any fun to go door to door begging for candy. Aside from that we can have costume parties any time of the year.
Telling a kid it's "ok" and no big deal when he gets scared of the fake guts spilled on the side of someone's porch is unmoral even though people think it's just supposed to be for fun.

Arya had a field trip today which out of all places was to the library. I volunteered to drive 3 kids.
Then had to watch them everywhere they went.



It was a truly strange for a library field trip, but I think it was fairly educational and fun. They had story time and a sing-along and they got to get a book of their choice.



Then they learned about gardening in a space behind the library.



After that it was lunch and play time on the playground. Thankfully it went well.



At home we watched movies and had home made cookies and other snacks. Laughing & dancing our own way :)

Wubble Bubble

So every time Arya watches tv, he sees this commercial about this ginormous bubble ball that is the biggest thing since sliced bread! I mean forget "tickle me Elmo" this thing is just crazy.
And he always poked me to order it, but I refused. Then we went to Target the other day and bam, there it is. He just about went berserk! These days he just puts what he wants in the cart (sometimes without me knowing) and I end up buying a bunch of stuff I didn't need! :) But I figured...ya know...why not. Let's just have some fun!



We get home and we open this thing. ha. good luck figuring out how to use it. After an hour and some youtube videos, it was time to get it working. Ya right! it took us quite a while. The inflating part was the toughest. But once it was done, this kid did not want to stop. He played with it the entire day. i am not kidding! Only problem is afterwards, this bubble looks so gross. It basically collects anything it touches. It's a wobbling germ bucket. :) yay me.





Well basically he played with it for a few weeks, hurt himself a few times, then it got super gross and dirty because apparently everything sticks to it, and then we ended up throwing it away.

Soccer war continues

Arya continues the war within himself to accomplish Soccer.



It's not easy to be thrown into a whirlwind of tough kids that were kicking each other since they could walk. And slowly he is entering this new world of crazy boys. Boys that are tough. Boys that are strong. Boys that are mean and fierce. And at the same time learning teamwork.



I never had the chance to play soccer when I was a kid. But I imagine it being a great sport to teach a person a lot of things. Fitness, most definitely. Teamwork, most assuredly. And agility, most certainly.
And there's also getting a quiet person out of his shell. Letting him become part of a group that works together for the same goal and principle.



It is a great accomplishment. And it is also valuable if learned effectively.



We do not know if this sport will be the winner in Arya's book. But it is one of those sports that should be given a try, if anything, at least for the fun of it! :)

Soccer 2014

Soccer finally begins! and on a very HOT day ...



The gang met at Phoenix Field park and it looked like a small group which later ended up as 12 kids due to some not finding the place. It is such a huge park. And this is the place we met. Where the practice was - there was NO shade at all.



Coach Ryan and Kristan Mcnally seemed pretty cool and helped the kids get started. This is Arya ready to kick the ball. He seemed a bit tired today and a little hot.








After the practice the gang sits to discuss the next week plans.



Followed by Panda Express chinese food. Yummy!

First grade begins...

Arya begins a new year as a first grader....



It's strange now that summer vacation is over how fast it flew by. As if it was yesterday he came out of kindergarten. And now when I see his face...it is so apparent how he has matured.




This year Arya has 2 teachers who take turns in teaching in the class due to their schedules they share a contract. They seem to work very well together and have been doing this for years.



It was a bit chaotic, but he saw a lot of the same faces that were in his kindergarten class before.



Especially his buddy Emet. :)



And of course a lot of moral support from Nana, Papa, Jamil, Me, Ali, and Tina :)



With his Baba :)



I got to peak in on recess. Mr Sand Pants really covered himself good...



And seemed pretty laid back after the day was done (they got out an hour earlier for minimum day)

Epilogue on Ramadan 2014

Life. You think you know everything. You're oblivious. You live in a dream without any awareness of what is to come. If it's meant to be, somehow you slowly learn about the unseen and the future becomes so clear. Everything changes. Priorities, thoughts, actions, ...everything. The body becomes less into itself and the soul starts to take over. Life is more meaningful. Happiness is beyond words...God is everything, everywhere.

Life is a test. Difficult for us to understand. God has not left us alone. He's always been with us. Warned us. Sent us his messengers to help us. To those truly sincere...God brings answers. What was written reveals the truth. It has always been there. Waiting for the willing. Confusion fades. And as time goes on, the closeness to the Hereafter becomes more real, imminent. We are here for a short time. All of us eventually must go. It is inevitable. It is our destiny. The hour is coming closer every day. Fear disappears. It was predetermined before we were born. We had no idea. Our decisions matter now before it's too late. Submission to God Alone is the Key.

Ali's 46th Birthday

Ali's 46th birthday fell on the Night of Destiny during Ramadan. It was a very blessed day but we were not able to celebrate his birthday on that day. So this was taken a week earlier.



So much has happened for Ali joon this year. So much enlightenment and doors have become opened.
We surround him and with our love wish him the best of his 46th year.



Arya likes to give him a hard time now and then but it all comes with the genes :) it's a small remembrance of his little self...



We got him a hammoc but unfortunately our trees cannot endure the heaviness so we had to return it. But hopefully we can do something else later :) It was a nice surprise though to see that look on his face :)




He also got 2 cooling towels and a few other nice gifts. I made him a chocolate vanilla cake with caramel and whip cream. It was late after Iftar that we ate and celebrated. A bit famished and thirsty we gave into the food and drink. :) Happy birthday azizam.